ENSEMBLE ET PROCEDE POUR LA FABRICATION D'UN JEU DE CONTENANTS INDIVIDUELS POUR PILULES

KIT AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A SET OF INDIVIDUAL PILL CONTAINERS

Abrégé français

Ensemble pour le tri de pilules, de tablettes ou de capsules comprenant un support avec retrait, une feuille prenant la forme d'un contenant et conçue pour s'adapter à l'intérieur du support et une feuille d'étanchéité en papier adhésif ayant sensiblement les mêmes dimensions que celles de la feuille formant contenant, pour fermer cette dernière. Des éléments de positionnement sont prévus pour la feuille et sur le support et/ou la feuille formant contenant, de manière à faciliter la fixation correcte de la feuille d'étanchéité sur le dessus de la feuille formant contenant. Un dispositif de tri de pilules fait de deux panneaux coulissants avec retrait à fond creux peut être utilisé pour mettre les pilules dans les contenants définis par la feuille formant contenant.

Abrégé anglais

A kit to sort out pills, tablets or capsules, which comprises a recessed support, a
container-defining sheet designed to fit into the support, and a sealing sheet made
of self-adhesive paper as having substantially the same dimension as the
container-defining sheet, so as to close the same. Positioning elements are provided on the
sealing sheet and on the support and/or the container-defining sheet in order tofacilitate proper fixation of the sealing sheet on top of the container-defining sheet.
A pill-sorting device made of two sliding panels with hollow bottomed recesses can
be used to insert the pills into the containers of the container-defining sheet.

Revendications

16



CLAIMS


1 A kit for the manufacture of a set of individual pill containers, said kit
comprising:

a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-
defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being upwardly
opened and thus defining a container, each of said containers being
surrounded by a flange of a given width provided with a central dotted line
punched therein, said dotted lines provided in all of said flanges making it
possible to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet
and from the adjacent containers;

b) a recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet, said recesses being positioned, shaped and sized to receive
the containers defined by said cavities embossed in the container-defining
sheet;

c) a container-sealing sheet made of paper, said container-sealing sheet
having a top surface and a bottom surface and being shaped and sized to
cover at least all the containers and surrounding flanges of the container-
defining sheet, the bottom surface of said container-sealing sheet having
bands covered with a self-adhesive material that are positioned, shaped and
sized to exactly correspond to and fit over the flanges of the container-
defining sheet, said bands being covered until use by a protective peelable
paper covering and being provided with central tearing lines making it
possible to tear said container-sealing sheet into a number of cover pieces
corresponding to the number of said containers; and


17

d) positioning means provided on at least the top surface of the container-
defining sheet and on the container-sealing sheet to ensure that, in use,
after
the container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support, the paper
covering is peeled off from the bands of the container-sealing sheet and said
container-sealing sheet is positioned on top of the top surface of the
container-defining sheet, the bands covered with a self-adhesive material and
their tearing lines be in exact superposition on top of the flanges and the
dotted lines of the container-defining sheet,
wherein the positioning means comprises at least one upwardly projecting
protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed support, at least one
hole
provided into the container-defining sheet and at least one other hole
provided in the
container-sealing sheet, said at least one hole and one other hole being sized
and
positioned to correspond to and be engaged by said protuberance.


2. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the recessed support
is
provided with two of said protuberances, the container-defining sheet is
provided
with two of said holes and the container-sealing sheet is provided with two of
said
other holes, each of said holes and other holes being sized and positioned to
correspond to and be engaged by one of said protuberances.


3. A kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recesses of the recessed
support
and the cavities of the container-defining sheet are positioned to form
regularly
spaced apart rows and columns.


4. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top surface of the

container-sealing sheet comprises information printed on it in such a manner
as to
be positioned on top of each cover piece and to correspond to what is in the
corresponding container.


5. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recessed support
comprises twenty-eight recesses and the container-defining sheet comprises
twenty-


18

eight containers, said recesses and containers being evenly positioned so as
to
define four columns and seven lines.


6. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said kit further
comprises:
(e) a pill-sorting device comprising a first panel and a second panel
stackable onto the top surface of the container-defining sheet after said
container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support,
- said first panel having a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
recesses which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the containers
of the container-defining sheet, each of the half-bottomed recesses of said
first panel having a bottom wall that extends above one of the containers of
the container defining sheet when said first panel is stacked onto the top
surface of said container-defining sheet, said bottom wall being provided with

a flat surface area and with at least one opening sized to allow at least one
pill to fall into the container extending under said bottom wall;
- said second panel having a top surface comprising a set of hollow
bottomed recesses each having a hollow bottom, said hollow bottomed
recesses being smaller in size than the half-bottomed recesses of the first
panel and being positioned so as to fit into said half-bottomed recesses when
the second panel is stacked onto the top surface of the first panel, said
hollow
bottomed recesses being respectively positioned so as to be slide in unison
within the half-bottomed recesses of the first panel between a first position
where said hollow bottomed recesses extend over the flat surface areas of the
half-bottomed recesses, and a second position where said hollow bottomed
recesses extend over the openings made in the half-bottomed recesses;
- whereby, in use, one may place pills into the half-bottomed recesses
of the second panel while said second panel is in the first position, and then

slide said first panel so as to cause said pills to fall down into the
containers
extending under the half-bottomed panels without seeing other pills that may
already have been placed into said containers.


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7. A kit according to claim 6, wherein the openings in the bottom wall of the
half-
bottomed recesses of the first panel occupy half of the surface area of said
bottom
wall and are located on one side of the corresponding half-bottomed recesses.


8. A kit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second panel is provided with
a
longitudinal slot and said first and second panels are secured together with
at least
one rivet passing trough said longitudinal slot and allowing said second panel
to
horizontally slide with respect to the first panel from the first position to
the second
position.


9. A kit according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first panel is
provided
with two further holes, each of these further holes being sized and positioned
to
correspond to and be engaged by one of the protuberances.


10. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said kit further
comprises:
(d) a device for use to open with a knife the set of individual pill
containers after
it has been manufactured;
said device comprising a flat base member and a "U"-shaped flange which
projects downwardly from said flat base member, said "U"-shaped flange member
comprising a bottom flange portion and two lateral opposite flanges portions
having
a given length;
said base member and flange portions together defining a cavity sized to fit
onto the set of individual pill containers when said set is in an upside down
position;
each of said two lateral opposite flange portions being provided with an
continuous
horizontal slot which extends over its length at a short distance from the
flat base
member, so that, when the set of individual pill containers is inserted upside
down
in the cavity, the slots extends slightly under the bottom of the containers;
whereby one can cut the bottoms of the containers of the set of individual
pill
containers by inserting a knife trough the slots of the two lateral flange and
moving
said knife from a first position which is distant from the base member to a
second
position which is close to the base member.



20

11. A method for the manufacture of a set of individual pill containers, using
a kit
comprising:
a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-
defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being upwardly
opened and thus defining a container, each of said containers being
surrounded by a flange of a given width provided with a central dotted line
punched therein, said dotted line provided in all of said flanges making it
possible to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet
and from the adjacent containers;

b)said recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet, said recessed support being positioned, shaped and sized to
receive the containers defined by said cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet;

c) a container-sealing sheet made of paper, said container-sealing sheet
having a top surface and a bottom surface and being shaped and sized to
cover at least all the containers and surrounding flanges of the container-
defining sheet, the bottom surface of said container-sealing sheet having
bands covered with a self-adhesive material that are positioned, shaped and
sized to exactly correspond to and fit over the flanges of the container-
defining sheet, said bands being covered until use by a protective peelable
paper covering and being provided with central tearing lines making it
possible to tear said container-sealing sheet into a number of cover pieces
corresponding to the number of said containers; and

d) positioning means provided on at least the top surface of the container-
defining sheet and on the container-sealing sheet to ensure that, in use,
after
the container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support, the paper
covering is peeled off from the bands of the container-sealing sheet and said



21

container-sealing sheet is positioned on top of the top surface of the
container-defining sheet, the bands covered with a self-adhesive material and
their tearing lines being in exact superposition on top of the flanges and the

dotted lines of the container-defining sheet,
wherein the positioning means comprises at least one upwardly projecting
protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed support, at least one
hole
provided into the container-defining sheet and at least one other hole
provided in the
container-sealing sheet, said at least one hole and one other hole being sized
and
positioned to correspond to and be engaged by said protuberance,

said method comprising the steps of :
-engaging the cavities of the container-defining sheet into the recesses of
the
recessed support and the at least one hole provided on said container-defining
sheet
onto the at least one protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed

support;
-filling each cavity with a given number of pill(s);
-peeling off the paper covering of the container sealing sheet;
-engaging the at least one hole of the contact sealing sheet onto the at least

one upwardly projecting protuberance provided on the top surface of the
recessed
support and projecting through said container defining sheet; and
-pressing the bands of the bottom surface of the container-sealing sheet to
the
top surface of the container-defining sheet so that said bands covered with a
self-adhesive material and their tearing lines are in exact superposition on
top of the
flanges and the dotted lines of the container-defining sheet and become glued
to
said flanges.


12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising, before the peeling
step,
the additional step of printing information on the bottom surface of the
sealing sheet
using a computerized software in such a manner as to position on top of each
cover
piece information corresponding to what is in the corresponding container.



22

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising the additional steps,
prior
to the filing step, of:
- providing a pill-sorting device;
said pill-sorting device comprising a first panel and a second panel stackable
onto
the top surface of the container-defining sheet after said container-defining
sheet is
fitted onto the recessed support,

- said first panel having a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
recesses which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the containers of
the
container-defining sheet, each of the half-bottomed recesses of said first
panel
having a bottom wall that extends above one of the containers of the container

defining sheet when said first panel is stacked onto the top surface of said
container-
defining sheet, said bottom wall being provided with a flat surface area and
with at
least one opening sized to allow at least one pill to fall into the container
extending
under said bottom wall;

- said second panel having a top surface comprising a set of hollow bottomed
recesses each having a hollow bottom, said hollow bottomed recesses being
smaller
in size than the half-bottomed recesses of the first panel and being
positioned so as
to fit into said half-bottomed recesses when the second panel is stacked onto
the top
surface of the first panel, said hollow bottomed recesses being respectively
positioned so as to be slidable in unison within the half-bottomed recesses of
the first
panel between a first position where said hollow bottomed recesses extend over
the
flat surface areas of the half-bottomed recesses, and a second position where
said
hollow bottomed recesses extend over the openings made in the half-bottomed
recesses;

and wherein the filling step includes the steps of:
- placing at least one pill into at least one half-bottomed recess of the
second
panel while said second panel is in the first position; and
- then sliding said first panel so as to cause said pill to fall down into the

container extending under the half-bottomed panel.


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14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of placing and sliding
are
successively and independently performed for each of the prescribed kinds of
pills.

15. A kit for the manufacture of a set of individual pill containers, said kit

comprising:

a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-
defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being upwardly
opened and thus defining a container, each of said containers being
surrounded by a flange of a given width provided with a central dotted line
punched therein, said dotted lines provided in all of said flanges making it
possible to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet
and from the adjacent containers;

b) a recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet, said recesses being positioned, shaped and sized to receive
the containers defined by said cavities embossed in the container-defining
sheet;

c) a container-sealing sheet shaped and sized to cover at least all the
containers and surrounding flanges of the container-defining sheet, said
container-seling sheet being provided with tearing lines making it possible to

tear said container-sealing sheet into a number of cover pieces corresponding
to the number of said containers; and

d) positioning means provided on at least the top surface of the container-
defining sheet and on the container-sealing sheet to ensure that, in use,
after
the container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support, the
container-
sealing sheet is properly positioned on top of the top surface of the
container-



24

defining sheet, with its tearing lines in exact superposition on top of the
dotted
lines of the container-defining sheet,
wherein the positioning means comprises at least one upwardly projecting
protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed support, at least one
hole
provided into the container-defining sheet and at least one other hole
provided in the
container-sealing sheet, said at least one hole and one other hole being sized
and
positioned to correspond to and be engaged by said protuberance.


16. A kit according to claim 15, wherein the top surface of the recessed
support
is provided with two of said protuberances, the container-defining sheet is
provided
with two of said holes and the container-sealing sheet is provided with two of
said
other holes, each of said holes and other holes being sized and positioned to
correspond to and be engaged by one of said protuberances.


17. A kit according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the recesses of the recessed
support and the cavities of the container-defining sheet are positioned to
form
regularly spaced apart rows and columns.


18. A kit according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the top surface of
the
container-sealing sheet comprises information printed on it in such a manner
as to
be positioned on top of each cover piece and to correspond to what is in the
corresponding container.


19. A kit according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the recessed
support
comprises twenty-eight recesses and the container-defining sheet comprises
twenty-
eight containers, said recesses and containers being evenly positioned so as
to
define four columns and seven lines.


20. A kit according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein said kit further
comprises:



25

(e) a pill-sorting device comprising a first panel and a second panel
stackable onto the top surface of the container-defining sheet after said
container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support,
- said first panel having a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
recesses which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the containers
of the container-defining sheet, each of the half-bottomed recesses of said
first panel having a bottom wall that extends above one of the containers of
the container defining sheet when said first panel is stacked onto the top
surface of said container-defining sheet, said bottom wall being provided with

a flat surface area and with at least one opening sized to allow at least one
pill to fall into the container extending under said bottom wall;
- said second panel having a top surface comprising a set of hollow
bottomed recesses each having a hollow bottom, said hollow bottomed
recesses being smaller in size than the half-bottomed recesses of the first
panel and being positioned so as to fit into said half-bottomed recesses when
the second panel is stacked onto the top surface of the first panel, said
hollow
bottomed recesses being respectively positioned so as to be slide in unison
within the half-bottomed recesses of the first panel between a first position
where said hollow bottomed recesses extend over the flat surface areas of the
half-bottomed recesses, and a second position where said hollow bottomed
recesses extend over the openings made in the half-bottomed recesses;
- whereby, in use, one may place pills into the half-bottomed recesses
of the second panel while said second panel is in the first position, and then

slide said first panel so as to cause said pills to fall down into the
containers
extending under the half-bottomed panels without seeing other pills that may
already have been placed into said containers.


21. A kit according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein said kit further
comprises:
(d) a device for use to open with a knife the set of individual pill
containers after
it has been manufactured;


26

said device comprising a flat base member and a "U"-shaped flange which
projects downwardly from said flat base member, said "U"-shaped flange member
comprising a bottom flange portion and two lateral opposite flanges portions
having
a given length;
said base member and flange portions together defining a cavity sized to fit
onto the set of individual pill containers when said set is in an upside down
position;
each of said two lateral opposite flange portions being provided with an
continuous
horizontal slot which extends over its length at a short distance from the
flat base
member, so that, when the set of individual pill containers is inserted upside
down
in the cavity, the slots extends slightly under the bottom of the containers;
whereby one can cut the bottoms of the containers of the set of individual
pill
containers by inserting a knife trough the slots of the two lateral flange and
moving
said knife from a first position which is distant from the base member to a
second
position which is close to the base member.


22. A method for the manufacture of a set of individual pill containers, using
a kit
comprising:
a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-
defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being upwardly
opened and thus defining a container, each of said containers being
surrounded by a flange of a given width provided with a central dotted line
punched therein, said dotted line provided in all of said flanges making it
possible to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet
and from the adjacent containers;

b) said recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet, said recessed support being positioned, shaped and sized to
receive the containers defined by said cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet;


27

c) a container-sealing sheet shaped and sized to cover at least all the
containers and surrounding flanges of the container-defining sheet, said
container-sealing sheet being provided with central tearing lines making it
possible to tear said container-sealing sheet into a number of cover pieces
corresponding to the number of said containers; and

d) positioning means provided on at least the top surface of the container-
defining sheet and on the container-sealing sheet to ensure that, in use,
after
the container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support, the
container-
sealing sheet is positioned on top of the top surface of the container-
defining
sheet, its tearing lines in exact superposition on top of and the dotted lines
of
the container-defining sheet,
wherein the positioning means comprises at least one upwardly projecting
protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed support, at least one
hole
provided into the container-defining sheet and at least one other hole
provided in the
container-sealing sheet, said at least one hole and one other hole being sized
and
positioned to correspond to and be engaged by said protuberance,

said method comprising the steps of :
-engaging the cavities of the container-defining sheet into the recesses of
the
recessed support and the at least one hole provided on said container-defining
sheet
onto the at least one protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed

support;
-filling each cavity with a given number of pill(s);
-engaging the at least one hole of the contact sealing sheet onto the at least

one upwardly projecting protuberance provided on the top surface of the
recessed
support and projecting through said container defining sheet; and
-pressing and fixing the container-sealing sheet to the top surface of the
container-defining sheet, whereby the tearing lines of the container-sealing
sheet are
in exact superposition on top of the dotted lines of the container-defining
sheet.


28
23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising, before the second
engaging step, the additional step of printing information on the bottom
surface of the
sealing sheet using a computerized software in such a manner as to position on
top
of each cover piece information corresponding to what is in the corresponding
container.

24. A method according to claim 22 or 23, comprising the additional steps,
prior
to the filing step, of:
- providing a pill-sorting device;
said pill-sorting device comprising a first panel and a second panel stackable
onto
the top surface of the container-defining sheet after said container-defining
sheet is
fitted onto the recessed support,

- said first panel having a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
recesses which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the containers of
the
container-defining sheet, each of the half-bottomed recesses of said first
panel
having a bottom wall that extends above one of the containers of the container
defining sheet when said first panel is stacked onto the top surface of said
container-
defining sheet, said bottom wall being provided with a flat surface area and
with at
least one opening sized to allow at least one pill to fall into the container
extending
under said bottom wall;

- said second panel having a top surface comprising a set of hollow bottomed
recesses each having a hollow bottom, said hollow bottomed recesses being
smaller
in size than the half-bottomed recesses of the first panel and being
positioned so as
to fit into said half-bottomed recesses when the second panel is stacked onto
the top
surface of the first panel, said hollow bottomed recesses being respectively
positioned so as to be slidable in unison within the half-bottomed recesses of
the first
panel between a first position where said hollow bottomed recesses extend over
the
flat surface areas of the half-bottomed recesses, and a second position where
said
hollow bottomed recesses extend over the openings made in the half-bottomed
recesses;


29
and wherein the filling step includes the steps of:
- placing at least one pill into at least one half-bottomed recess of the
second
panel while said second panel is in the first position; and
- then sliding said first panel so as to cause said pill to fall down into the
container extending under the half-bottomed panel.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the steps of placing and sliding
are
successively and independently performed for each of the prescribed kinds of
pills.
26. A pill-sorting device for use with a kit for the manufacture of a set of
individual
pill containers, said kit comprising:
a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-
defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being upwardly
opened and thus defining a container, each of said containers being
surrounded by a flange of a given width provided with a central dotted line
punched therein, said dotted lines provided in all of said flanges making it
possible to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet
and from the adjacent containers;

b) a recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-
defining sheet, said recesses being positioned, shaped and sized to receive
the containers defined by said cavities embossed in the container-defining
sheet; and

c) a container-sealing sheet being shaped and sized to cover at least all
the containers and surrounding flanges of the container-defining sheet;
said pill-sorting device comprising:


30
a first panel and a second panel stackable onto the top surface of the
container-defining sheet after said container-defining sheet is fitted onto
the
recessed support,
- said first panel having a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
recesses which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the containers
of the container-defining sheet, each of the half-bottomed recesses of said
first panel having a bottom wall that extends above one of the containers of
the container defining sheet when said first panel is stacked onto the top
surface of said container-defining sheet, said bottom wall being provided with
a flat surface area and with at least one opening sized to allow at least one
pill to fall into the container extending under said bottom wall;

- said second panel having a top surface comprising a set of hollow
bottomed recesses each having a hollow bottom, said hollow bottomed
recesses being smaller in size than the half-bottomed recesses of the first
panel and being positioned so as to fit into said half-bottomed recesses when
the second panel is stacked onto the top surface of the first panel, said
hollow
bottomed recesses being respectively positioned so as to be slide in unison
within the half-bottomed recesses of the first panel between a first position
where said hollow bottomed recesses extend over the flat surface areas of the
half-bottomed recesses, and a second position where said hollow bottomed
recesses extend over the openings made in the half-bottomed recesses;

- whereby, in use, one may place pills into the half-bottomed recesses
of the second panel while said second panel is in the first position, and then
slide said first panel so as to cause said pills to fall down into the
containers
extending under the half-bottomed panels without seeing other pills that may
already have been placed into said containers.

27. A pill-sorting device according to claim 26, wherein the openings in the
bottom
wall of the half-bottomed recesses of the first panel occupy half of the
surface area


31
of said bottom wall and are located on one side of the corresponding half-
bottomed
recesses.

28. A device for opening with a knife a set of individual pill containers,
said set
of individual pill containers comprising:
- a container-defining sheet made of plastic material, said container-defining
sheet having a top surface of a rectangular shape comprising a given number of
evenly spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being
upwardly
opened and thus defining a container having a bottom, each of said container
being
surrounded by a flange of a given width; and
- a container-sealing sheet which is fastened over the top surface of said
container-defining sheet, said container-sealing sheet being shaped and sized
to
cover at least all the containers and surrounding flanges of the container-
defining
sheet,
wherein said device comprises a flat base member and a "U"-shaped flange
which projects downwardly from said flat member, said "U"-shaped flange member
comprising a bottom flange portion and two lateral opposite flanges portions
having
a given length;
said base member and flange portion together defining a cavity sized to fit
onto the set of individual pill containers when said set is in an upside down
position;
each of said two lateral opposite flange portions being provided with an
continuous
horizontal slot which extends over its length at a short distance from the
flat base
member, so that, when the set of individual pill containers is inserted upside
down
in the cavity, the slots extends slightly under the bottom of the containers;
whereby one can cut the bottoms of the containers of the set of individual
pill
containers by inserting a knife trough the slots of the two lateral flange and
moving
said knife from a first position which is distant from the base member to a
second
position which is close to the base member.

Description

CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
1
KIT AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A SET OF INDIVIDUAL PILL
CONTAINERS
s BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A) Field of the invention
The invention relates to a kit for "sorting" pills and/or tablets. More
particularly,
z o it relates to a kit that can be used by a pharmacist, a nurse or any other
person
entitled to do so, for the purpose of preparing a set of individual containers
containing
pills andlor tablets to be administered to a patient. Each of these containers
contains
the pills and/or tablets that the patient has to take together at the same
time during
the day over a given period of time (preferably one week).
is
B) Description of the prior art
To prepare a set of individual pill containers for use by a patient, it has
already
been suggested to use a sheet of plastic material in which a plurality of
recesses are
2 o molded. Each of these recesses defines a small upwardly opened container
that can
be filled with pills. After filling, all the containers are closed by means of
a plastic
sealing sheet on which can be printed all the desirable indications like the
patient's
name, the date and hour of administration, etc.... The sealing sheet is
applied onto
the container-defining sheet and thermo-sealed onto same. As can be
understood,
2 s the indications are printed and formatted onto the sealing sheet so that
each group
of information referring to a given container be positioned in regard to the
said
container. Tearing lines are provided on both the container-defining sheet and
the
sealing sheet to allow for easy separation of the individual pill containers.
This assembly is efficient. However, it has some drawbacks. More particularly,
3 o it is very difficult and time consuming to ensure correct positioning of
the preprinted
sealing sheet on top of the containers. As can be understood, incorrect
positioning


CA 02207045 1998-03-16
2
of the sealing sheet will make the pill containers difficult to separate.
Also, thermo-
sealing is not economical, as it calls for thermo-sealing equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above drawbacks, the present invention provides a kit for
the manufacture of a set of individual pill containers, which makes it
possible to use
a conventional self-adhesive sheet of paper hereinafter called "container-
sealing
sheet" (or "sticker') to cover and seal the containers. As a result, no thermo-
sealing
1o equipment is required. The sealing step can be carried out by simply
applying the
self-adhesive sheet of paper onto the container-defining sheet.
To ensure correct positioning of the self-adhesive sheet of paper over the
containers, positioning means are also provided onto at least the top surface
of the
container defining sheet and the container-sealing sheet.
More particularly, the invention provides a kit for the manufacture of a set
of
individual pill containers, which comprises a container-defining sheet made of
a
plastic material. This sheet has a top surface comprising a given number of
evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein. Each of these cavities is upwardly
opened
and thus defines a container. Each container is surrounded by a flange of a
given
2o width provided with a central dotted line punched therein. Such dotted
lines are
provided on all of the flanges thereby making it possible to detach each of
the
containers from the container-defining sheet and from the adjacent containers.
The kit of the invention also comprises a recessed support having a top
surface provided with a number of recesses at least equal to the number of
cavities
embossed in the container-defining sheet. These recesses are positioned,
shaped
and sized to receive the containers defined by the cavities embossed in the
container-defining sheet.
The kit of the invention further comprises a container-sealing sheet made of
paper. This sheet has a top surface and a bottom surface, and is shaped and
sized
3 o to cover at least all the containers and surrounding flanges of the
container-defining
sheet. The bottom surface of the container-sealing sheet has bands covered
with a
self-adhesive material that are positioned, shaped and sized to correspond
exactly


CA 02207045 1999-O1-25
3
to and fit over the flanges of the container-defining sheet. These bands are
covered
until use by a protective peelable paper covering and are provided with
central
tearing lines. These tearing lines make it possible to tear the container-
sealing sheet
apart into a number of cover pieces corresponding to the number of said
containers.
Positioning means are provided onto at least the top surface of the container-
defining sheet and the container-sealing sheet. These means ensure that, in
use,
after the container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support, the
paper
covering is peeled off from the bands of the container-sealing sheet, and the
container-sealing sheet is positioned on top of the top surface of the
container-
1o defining sheet, the bands covered with a self-adhesive material and their
tearing
lines must be in exact superposition on top of the flanges and the dotted
lines of the
container-defining sheet.
Avantageously, the positioning means comprises one and preferably two
upwardly preojecting protuberances on the top surface of the recessed support,
a
corresponding nuber of holes in the container-defining sheet and a other
corresponding minutes of other holes in the container-sealing sheet, all these
holes
being sized and positioned to correspond to and be engaged by the
protuberance(s).
The invention also provides a kit for the manufacture of a set of individual
pill
containers, said kit comprising:
2 o a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-
defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of evenly
spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of said cavities being upwardly
opened and thus defining a container, each of said containers being
surrounded by a flange of a given width provided with a central dotted line
punched therein, said dotted lines provided in all of said flanges making it
possible to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet
and from the adjacent containers;
b) a recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the container-
3 o defining sheet, said recesses being positioned, shaped and sized to
receive
the containers defined by said cavities embossed in the container-defining
sheet;


CA 02207045 1999-O1-25
4
c) a container-sealing sheet shaped and sized to cover at least all the
containers and surrounding flanges of the container-defining sheet, said
container-seling sheet being provided with tearing lines making it possible to
tear said container-sealing sheet into a number of cover pieces corresponding
to the number of said containers; and
d) positioning means provided on at least the top surface of the container-
defining sheet and on the container-sealing sheet to ensure that, in use,
after
the container-defining sheet is fitted onto the recessed support, the
container-
sealing sheet is properly positioned on top of the top surface of the
container-
1 o defining sheet, with its tearing lines in exact superposition on top of
the dotted
lines of the container-defining sheet,
wherein the positioning means comprises at least one upwardly projecting
protuberance provided on the top surface of the recessed support, at least one
hole
provided into the container-defining sheet and at least one other hole
provided in the
container-sealing sheet, said at least one hole and one other hole being sized
and
positioned to correspond to and be engaged by said protuberance.
The invention further provides a device for opening with a knife a set of
individual pill containers like the one made with the kit of the invention,
which
comprises:
2 0 - a container-defining sheet made of plastic material which has a top
surface
of a rectangular shape comprising a given number of evenly spaced apart
cavities
embossed therein. Those cavities are upwardly opened and thus define a
container
having a bottom. Each of the containers are surrounded by a flange of a given
width;
and,
- a container-sealing sheet which is fastened over the top surface of the
container-defining sheet. The container-sealing sheet is shaped and sized to
cover
at least all the containers and surrounding flanges of the container-defining
sheet.
The device according to the invention for opening with a knife a set of
individual pill containers, comprises a flat base member and a "U"-shaped
flange
3 o which projects downwardly from said flat member. The "U"-shaped flange
member
comprises a bottom flange portion and two lateral opposite flange portions
having
a given length. The base portion and flange portions together define a cavity
sized


CA 02207045 1999-O1-25
4a
to fit onto the set of individual set of pill containers when said set is in
an upside
down position.
Each of the two lateral opposite flange portions are provided with a
continuous horizontal slot which extends over its length at a short distance
from the
flat base portion, so that, when the set of individual pill containers is
inserted upside
down in the cavity, the slots extend slightly under the bottom of the
containers.
Thus, one can cut the bottoms of the containers of the set of individual pill
containers by inserting a knife through the slots of the two lateral flange
and moving
said knife from a first position which is distant from the base member to a
second
1 o position which is close to the base member.
The invention further provides a pill-sorting device that can be used with the
kit disclosed hereinabove or with any similar kit comprising:
a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, which has a top
surface comprising a given number of evenly spaced apart cavities
embossed therein. Each of these cavities is upwardly opened and thus
defines a container. Each of the containers is surrounded by a flange
of a given width provided with a central dotted line punched therein,
said dotted lines are provided in all of said flanges making it possible
to detach each of the containers from the container-defining sheet and
2 o from the adjacent containers;
b) a recessed support having a top surface provided with a number of
recesses at least equal to the number of cavities embossed in the
container-defining sheet. These recesses are positioned, shaped and
sized to receive the containers defined by said cavities embossed in
the container-defining sheet; and
c) a container-sealing sheet which is shaped and sized to cover at least
all the containers and surrounding flanges of the container-defining
sheet.
3o The pill-sorting device according to the invention comprises:


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
a
a first panel and a second panel stackable onto the top surface of the
container-defining sheet after said container-defrning sheet is fitted onto
the recessed
support,
- the first panel has a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
5 recesses which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the containers
of the container-defining sheet. Each of the half-bottomed recesses of the
first panel has a bottom wall that extends above one of the containers of the
container defining sheet when said first panel is stacked onto the top surface
of the container-defining sheet. The bottom wall of the half bottomed recesses
1 o is provided with a flat surface area and with at least one opening sized
to
allow at least one pill to fall into the container extending under said bottom
wall;
- the second panel has a top surface comprising a set of hollow
~5 bottomed recesses each having a hollow bottom. These hollow bottomed
recesses are smaller in size than the half-bottomed recesses of the first
panel
and are positioned so as to fit into said half-bottomed recesses when the
second pane( is stacked onto the top surface of the first panel. These hollow
bottomed recesses are respectively positioned so as to be slideable in unison
2o within the half bottomed recesses of the first panel. between a first
position,
where said hollow bottomed recesses extend over the flat surface areas of the
half bottomed recesses, and a second position where said hollow bottomed
recesses extend over the openings made in the half-bottomed recesses;
25 - whereby, in use, one may place pills into the half-bottomed recesses
of the second panel while the second panel is in the first position, and then
slide the first panel so as to cause said pills to fall down into the
containers
extending under the half-bottomed panels without seeing the other pills that
may already have been placed into these containers.


CA 02207045 1998-03-16
6
The invention further provides a method for the manufacture of a set of pill
containers, using a kit of the invention. The method comprises the steps of
-engaging the cavities of the container-defining sheet into the recesses of
the
recessed support;
-filling each cavity with a given number of pill(s);
-peeling off the paper covering of the container sealing sheet;
-engaging the positioning means provided on the top of the container-defining
sheet together with the one provided on the container sealing sheet; and
-pressing the bands of the bottom surface of the container-sealing sheet to
the
1 o top surface of the container-defining sheet so that said bands covered
with a
self-adhesive material and their tearing lines are in exact superposition on
top of the
flanges and the dotted lines of the container-defining sheet and become glued
to
said flanges.
It is worth noting that the use of positions means on both the container-
defining sheet and container-sealing sheet to ensure a proper alignement of
the
tearing lines and dotted lines could also be used on container-defining sheets
of the
thermosettable type. This aspect of the invention is also claimed hereinafter.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following non
restrictive description of two preferred embodiments of the invention made
with
2 o reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the recessed support of the kit according to a
first preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevational cross-section view taken along line II-II of
the
support shown in figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of a plastic sheet defining a plurality of
individual
3o containers, that can be used as a container-defining sheet in the kit
according to the
invention;


CA 02207045 1998-03-16
6a
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the support shown in Figure 1, on which the
container-defining sheet shown in Figure 3 is mounted;
10
20
30


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
, 7
Figure 5 is a top plan view of a sealing sheet made of self adhesive paper for
use to seal the containers of the container-defining sheet;
Figure 6 is a top plan view similar to the one of figure 5, showing the same
sealing sheet after it has been printed;
s Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the whole kit according to the
first
embodiment of the invention, showing the recessed support, the container-
defining
sheet and the sealing sheet;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an individual sealed container prepared with
the kit according to the invention.
to Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a recessed support, a container-

defining sheet and a first and a second stackable panel of a pill-sorting
device of a
kit according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a front elevational cross-section view taken along line X-X of
figure 9, showing the elements stacked one upon the other;
zs Figure 11 is a front elevational cross-section view similar to the one of
figure
10, wherein the second panel slides to the left of the first panel; and
Figure 12 is a perspective view in partial cross-section of an opening device
that can be part of the kit according to the invention, said figure also
containing a
perspective view in partial cross-section of the container-defining sheet to
be opened,
2 o in an upside down position.
DESCRIPTION OF TWO PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The kit according to the invention is intended to be used for the preparation
2 s of a set of containers each containing pills and/or tablets to be
administered to a
patient at given dates and times.
This kit comprises a recessed support (1 ) made of a rigid plastic material.
This
support is shown alone in figures 1 and 2. The kit also comprises a container-
defining
sheet (3) also made of moulded plastic material. This sheet (3) is shown alone
in
3 o Figure 3. The kit further comprises a container-sealing sheet (9) made of
paper. -this
sheet (9) is shown alone in Figure 5.


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
8
The sheet (3) defining the pill containers is preferably made of transparent
plastic. (t is moulded so as to define a plurality of evenly spaced apart
cavities on its
top surface, each of these cavities being upwardly opened and thus defining
individual container (2). Each of these containers (2) is surrounded with a
flange (10)
of a given width which is provided with a central tearing or dotted line
punched
therein. Each container (2) can be detached from the container-defining sheet
(3)
and from the others containers (2) thanks to this set of dotted lines (4).
The support (1 ) is designed to receive, hold and support the container-
defining
sheet (3). For this purpose, it comprises on its top surface a slightly
recessed area
"A" having the same size as the sheet (3) in order to receive same. In the
recessed
area "A", the support (1 ) also comprises a number of recesses (1') at least
equal to
the number of cavities embossed on the container-defining sheet (3) and that
are
positioned, shaped and sized to receive the containers (2) moulded in the
container-
defining sheet (3).
The container-sealing sheet (9) is shaped and sized to cover at least all the
containers (2) and surrounding flanges (10) of the container-defining sheet
(3). The
bottom surface of this container-sealing sheet (9) has bands (18) covered with
a self-
adhesive material that are positioned, shaped and sized to exactly correspond
to and
fit over the flanges (10) of the container-defining sheet (3). These bands
(18) are
2 o covered until use by a protective peelable paper covering (19). The
container-sealing
sheet (9) is provided with central tearing lines (11 ) to match dotted lines
(4) of the
container defining-sheet (3). These tearing lines (11 ) make it possible to
tear said
container-sealing sheet (9) into a number of cover pieces or lids 12
corresponding
to the number of the containers (2).
2 s Positioning means are provided onto at least the top surface of the
container-
defining sheet (3) and on the container-sealing sheet (9) to ensure that, when
the
latter is positioned on top of the top surface of the container-defining sheet
(3), the
bands (18) and their tearing lines (11 ) be in exact superposition on top of
the flanges
(10) and the dotted lines (4) of the container-defining sheet (8). In the
illustrated
3 o embodiments, which are preferred ones, these positioning means comprise
two
protuberances (5) provided on the support (1 ) and which project upwardly from
fhe


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
9
top surface of the recessed area "A". The positioning means also comprises the
holes (7), provided with the containerwdefining sheet (3)container-sealing
sheet (9),
two holes (15) sized and positioned to engage the two protuberances (5) of the
support (1 ).
Preferably, the containers (2) of the sheet (3) and the recesses (1') of the
support (1 ) receiving the sheet (3) are respectively of a number of twenty-
eight.
These containers (2) and recesses (1') may be shaped so as to define four
columns
corresponding to the four periods of the day when pills are usually given
(i.e.
morning, noon, evening and night). When a set of pills is to be administered
over a
to week, the sheet (3) also comprises seven rows, each corresponding to one
day per
week (see Figures 1 to 6). However, such numbers of recesses (1') and
containers
(2) and/or columns and rows can be changed if need be.
To manufacture a set of pill containers, an empty container-defining sheet (3)
is set onto the recessed support (1 ), as is shown in Figure 4. Then, each
container
1 s (Z) of the sheet (3) is filled with the pills andlor tablets that the
patient has to take at
the same time during the day. The days (6) and times (8) can be printed on the
support to help the pharmacist or nurse in sorting the pills and tablets and
completing
the filling operation.
Then, the container-sealing sheet (9) (or sticker) which is preferably made of
2 o self-adhesive paper, is written or printed to clearly identify each
container (2). This
operation can be easily performed onto a blank self adhesive sheet (9), like
the one
shown in Figure 5, by using a computer program and a printer. The result is
shown
in Figure 6. As mentioned before, tearing lines (11 ) are provided on the
sealing sheet
(9) to match the dotted line (4) of the container-defining sheet (3) and thus
allow for
2 5 an easy separation of each sealed container (2). These tearing lines (11 )
thus define
a plurality of individual lid (12).
The following information relating to the patient's prescription, may appear
on
each individual paper lid (12) defined by the sheet (9) after it has been torn
out:
name of the patient, day and time of administration; identification of the
room or table
3 0 of the patient; etc...


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
The self-adhesive sheet (9) should be glued only to the frame (10) of the
container (2), so as to prevent the pills or tablets from being "stuck" on the
lids (12).
For this purpose, the back (or bottom) of the sheet (9) is provided with
gluing lines
or bands (18) sized to fit only onto the flanges (10). These gluing bands (18)
are
s covered and protected by a peelable skin (19) that can be manually peeled
off
before use.
Because the dotted and tearing lines (11 ) and (4) have to be precisely one
above the other, it is very important that the container sealing sheet (9) be
precisely
positioned above the container detfning sheet (3). To do so, the two holes
(15) of the
1 o container-sealing sheet (9) engage the two protuberances (5) of the
support (1 ).
It has been found more convenient to provide the support (1 ) with
protuberances, and the container-defining sheet (3) and the container-sealing
sheet
(9) with corresponding holes. However, some variations can be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the protuberances) to
be
engaged by the corresponding holes) provided on the container-sealing sheet
(9),
may be moulded directly on the top surface of the container-defining sheet (3)
instead of being provided on the support (1 ).
After the holes (15) of the container-sealing sheet (9) are engaged to the
protuberances (5) of the support (1 ), the paper covering is peeled off the
bands (18)
of the container-sealing sheet (9) and applied on the top surface of the
container-
defining sheet (3).
Once the container-sealing sheet (9) is glued on top of the container-defining
sheet (3), the requested set of individual sealed pill containers (13) is
obtained. An
individual container (13) thus obtained is shown in Figure 8.
2s As shown in figure 4, dotted lines (17) may be provided on each paper lid
(12)
to facilitate perforation of same and thus facilitate easy access to the
pills. A sample
of a pill container that can be so obtained is shown in figure 7.
According to a second particularly preferred embodiment of the invention
3 o shown in figs. 9 to 11, the kit may further comprise, in addition to the
elements which
have been described hereinabove, a pill-sorting device (21 ) comprising a
first panel


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
11
(23) and a second panel (27). It should be noted that the recessed support
(1")
shown in the second embodiment of the invention slightly differs from the
support (1 )
of the first embodiment as the support (1") in that it does not have a
recessed area
"A". Apart from that, al( the elements of the kit which have already been
described
in the first embodiment of the invention are similar to the ones of the second
embodiment and identical numeral references have been used to identify the
same.
As shown in figures 9 to 11, the two panels (23) and (27) are stackable onto
the top surface of the container-defining sheet (3) after the latter is fitted
onto the
recessed support (1"). Advantageously, they should be made of an opaque
moulded
1 o plastic.
The first panel (23) has a top surface comprising a set of half-bottomed
recesses (24) which are positioned, sized and shaped exactly like the
containers (2)
of the container-defining sheet. Each of tfie half-bottomed recesses (24) has
a
bottom wall (25) that extends above one of the containers (2) of the container-

~.5 defining sheet (3) when the panel (23) is stacked onto the top surface of
said
container-defining sheet (3). The bottom wall (25) is provided with a flat
surface area
and with at least one opening (26) which is sized to allow at least one pill
to fall into
the container (2) extending under the bottom wall (25).
Preferably, the openings (26) in the bottom wall (25) of the half-bottomed
2 o recesses (24) of the first panel (23) occupy half of the surface area of
the bottom wall
(25) and are located on one side of the corresponding half bottomed recesses
(24).
Preferably also, the first panel (23) can be provided with two holes (35),
each
of them being sized and positioned to correspond to and be engaged by one of
the
protuberances (5) of the recessed support (1 ")
25 The second panel (27) has a top surface which comprises a set of hollow
bottomed recesses (29) each having a hollow bottom. The hollow bottomed
recesses
(29) are smaller in size than the half-bottomed recesses (24) of the first
panel (23)
and are positioned so as to fit into said half bottomed recesses (24) when the
second
panel (27) is stacked onto the top surface of the first panel (23). These
hollow
3 o bottomed recesses (29) are respectively positioned so as to be slide in
unison within
the half-bottomed recesses (24) of the first panel (23) between two positions.
The


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
, 12
first position shown in Fig. 10, is defined when the hollow bottomed recesses
(29)
extend over the flat surface areas of the half-bottomed recesses (24). The
second
position shown in Fig. 11, is defined when the hollow bottomed recesses (29)
extend
over the openings (26) made in the half-bottomed recesses (24).
The first and the second panels (23) and (27) may be secured together with
at least one rivet (31 ), and preferably two. Such rivets (31 )are not shown
in Fig. 9 in
order to allow the best view of the first panel (23). I-lowever, such a rivet
(31 ) is
represented on the cross-sectioned view of Figs 10 and 11. As shown in these
figures, the rivet (31 ) may have a central pin, a top head and a bottom head.
The
1 o second panel (27) is provided with a longitudinal slot (33) and the rivet
(31 ) passes
trough this longitudinal slot (33) and allows the second panel (27) to
horizontally slide
with respect to the first panel from the first position to the second
position. Therefore,
the slot (33) has a length relatively equivalent to the length of the half
bottomed
recesses.
In use, and as best shown in figure 9, the two panels (23) and (27) are
stacked
onto the container-defining sheet (3), while the latter is positioned onto the
support
(1') and its holes (35) engaged onto the protuberances (5). Then, one may
place one
or more pills into each of the hollow bottomed recesses (29) of the second
panel (27)
while this panel (27) is in the first position (see Fig.10). Once the pills)
are on the flat
2o surface of each of the half-bottomed recesses (24) corresponding to an
individual
container (2) to be filled, the user then slides the second panel (27) so as
to cause
the pills to fall down into the containers (2) extending under the half-
bottomed
recesses (24) (see Fig.11 ). This method allows the user to sort out
individual groups
of a given kind of pill without seeing the other pills that may already have
been
placed into the containers (2).
Once the filling is completed, the panels (23) and (27) are removed from the
container-defining sheet (3) and the sealing sheet (9) is positioned and glued
as
described hereinabove.
It often happens that a patient has to take more than one kind of pill andlor
3 o tablet at the same time of the day. When this is the case, the risk of
error increases
since, due to the mixing of different kinds of pills, it is difficult to
control whether the


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
z 13
given number of any kind of pill has been effectively put into each requisite
container (2). The kit and method of filling according to the second preferred
embodiment of the invention allows for an easier control of the contents of
each
container (2). Indeed, each kind of pill is first positioned on the flat
surface of the
s bottom wall (25) and thus isolated in individual groups from the other pills
already
present therein. This preliminary step allows the user to have a better and
easier
visual control of the presence in each container (2) of the requested pills,
since all
kinds of pills are not immediately mixed together.
It should be noted that the pill sorting device disclosed thereinabove may not
only be used with the set of pill containers according to the invention. As a
matter of
fact, it could also be used with any other kind of previously known set of
pill
containers, like the thermo-sealed ones.
The resulting set of pill containers is very useful for use in community
organizations like hospitals, retirement homes and the like, where numerous
patients
15 must be given different medications at the same time. The kit according to
the
invention permits to reduce the time of preparation of a prescription for each
patient.
It also reduces the risk of error.
In accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the kit
disclosed hereinabove, may further comprise a device for opening the set of
pill
z o containers after it has been manufactured. As a matter of fact, it often
happens that
the treatment ordered for a patient must be modified and, consequently, new
pills
and/or drug tablets must be added to the set of pill containers. When the set
of pill
containers is already made, a completely new set then has to be made from the
beginning and to proceed to another filling of each container, pill after
pill. This is time
z s consuming.
The present invention provides a device (40) which allows to quickly open the
bottom wall of all the containers (2) and then to transfer their contents into
another
container-defining sheet (3) in a simple and rapid two-step process.
As shown in Fig. 12, the device (40) is provided, this device (40) is for use
in
3 0 opening with a knife a set of individual pill containers (50). This set of
individual pill
containers (50) is shown in Fig. 12 in an upside down position and comprises:


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
14
- a container-defining sheet (51 ) made of plastic material, which has a top
surface of a rectangular shape comprising a given number of evenly spaced
apart
cavities embossed therein. Each of said cavities are upwardly opened and thus
define a container (53) having a bottom, and each of said containers (53) are
surrounded by a flange (55) of a given width.
- a container-sealing sheet (57) is fastened over the top surface of said
container-defining sheet (51 ). The container-sealing sheet (57) is shaped and
sized
to cover at least all the containers (53) and surrounding flanges (55) of the
container-
defining sheet (51 ).
1 o The device (40) comprises a flat base member (41 ) and a "U"-shaped flange
(43) which projects downwardly from the flat member (41 ). The "U"-shaped
flange
member (43) comprising a bottom flange portion (45) and two lateral opposite
flanges
portions (46) having a given length. In order to render the comprehension
easier, fig.
12 represents a cross-sectioned view of the device (40). Consequently only one
of
the two lateral opposite flange portions (46) is shown. The other lateral
opposite
flange portions is symmetrical to the represented one over a longitudinal
axis.
The base member (41 ) and flange members (46) together defining a cavity
sized to fit onto the set of individual set of pill containers (50) when the
latter is in an
upside down position.
2 o Each of the two lateral opposite flange portions (46) are provided with a
continuous horizontal slot (47) which extends over its length at a short
distance from
the flat base member (41 ). Thus, when the set of individual pill containers
(50) is
inserted upside down in the cavity, the slots extend slightly under the
bottoms of the
containers (53).
2 s Thereby, in use, one may position the set of individual pill containers
(50) in
an upside down position into the cavity of the device (~0) and cut the bottoms
of the
containers (53) of the set of individual pill containers (50) by inserting a
knife trough
the slots (47) of the two lateral flange portions (46) and moving said knife
from a first
position which is distant from the base member (41 ) to a second position
which is
3 o close to the base member (41 ).


CA 02207045 1997-OS-21
' 15
Once the bottoms of the containers (53) are cut, the device (40) and the cut
portions of the bottoms are removed. Then, one just has to position onto the
cut
container-defining sheet (51 ) another container defining sheet similar to the
cut one.
The containers of the other container-defining sheet are positioned so as to
engage
a portion of the cut containers (53). Then, pressing the two sheets together
in that
position, the user turns them upside down, thereby provoking the pills
contained in
each cut containers (53) to fall into a new one.
This process obviously avoids the time consuming step of re-filing the
containers defining sheet pill by pill. All that remains to do is to fill each
containers
~. o with the newly prescribed pills and to proceed with the sealing step. It
should be
noted that this device and process according to the invention may not only be
used
with the set of pill containers according to the invention. As a matter of
fact, it could
also be used with any other kind of previously known set of pill containers,
like the
thermo-sealed ones.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be
understood that
the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various
changes
and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or
spirit
2 0 of the invention.
For example, even though the positioning means according to the invention,
preferably comprises two protuberances, it is obvious that more or less of
these
protuberances may be provided on the support (1') and/or the container-
defining
sheet (3).

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